The average salary for a freight and cargo inspector in the United States is around $92,100 per year.
Avg Salary
Freight and cargo inspectors earn an average yearly salary of $92,100.
Wages typically start from $40,330 and go up to $138,670.
29% above national average Updated in 2025
Freight and cargo inspector earnings by seniority
Top-level freight and cargo inspector earnings begin at:
$66.67 per hour
$138,670 per year
Senior-level freight and cargo inspector earnings begin at:
$52.35 per hour
$108,890 per year
Mid-level freight and cargo inspector earnings begin at:
$44.28 per hour
$92,100 per year
Junior-level freight and cargo inspector earnings begin at:
$28.26 per hour
$58,780 per year
Starting level freight and cargo inspector earnings begin at:
$19.39 per hour
$40,330 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Freight and cargo inspector salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Georgia | $95,030 |
| New York | $93,420 |
| Nebraska | $93,290 |
| Minnesota | $92,860 |
| Connecticut | $91,520 |
| District of Columbia | $89,960 |
| Arkansas | $85,130 |
| North Carolina | $84,470 |
| Kentucky | $83,970 |
| California | $83,000 |
| Colorado | $81,820 |
| Pennsylvania | $81,550 |
| South Carolina | $80,490 |
| Indiana | $80,330 |
| Massachusetts | $79,650 |
| Tennessee | $78,430 |
| Oregon | $78,110 |
| Louisiana | $77,460 |
| Ohio | $77,010 |
| Wisconsin | $75,260 |
| South Dakota | $70,080 |
| Virginia | $68,610 |
| New Hampshire | $66,350 |
| Missouri | $64,690 |
| Utah | $64,480 |
| Maine | $63,750 |
| New Mexico | $63,690 |
| Montana | $62,810 |
| Rhode Island | $62,400 |
| Arizona | $62,250 |
| Mississippi | $61,330 |
| West Virginia | $58,670 |
| Idaho | $54,330 |
| Nevada | $50,060 |
| New Jersey | $49,250 |
| Illinois | $47,990 |
| Guam | $45,230 |
| Wyoming | $38,330 |
| Michigan | $35,890 |
| Puerto Rico | $18,210 |
| Alaska | $123,120 |
| Iowa | $116,850 |
| Oklahoma | $111,070 |
| Hawaii | $108,270 |
| Alabama | $108,140 |
| North Dakota | $106,330 |
| Washington | $104,250 |
| Kansas | $103,380 |
| Florida | $101,470 |
| Texas | $101,440 |
| Maryland | $100,700 |
How do freight and cargo inspector salaries compare to similar careers?
Freight and cargo inspectors earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than ship captains but more than flight attendants.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Ship captain salary | $92K |
| Shipmate salary | $92K |
| Customs broker salary | $83K |
| Transit police officer salary | $90K |
| Logistician salary | $82K |
| Freight and cargo inspector salary | $92K |
| Locomotive engineer salary | $81K |
| Aircraft mechanic salary | $80K |
| Avionics technician salary | $82K |
| Flight attendant salary | $64K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)